Family Day was today... And even if, at first glance, this day didn't really excite Brooke... She knew that it would at least be an opportunity to meet or even confront Lucas. This morning, she had agreed to accompany Debie to Sister Julie, the Community's seamstress. Reluctantly, she had agreed to have her measurements taken so that she could make a dress for the gala. Brooke then left Debie and to go choose and put on her outfit for the rest of the day. Once changed, she had gone to the garden where many people were already bustling and active. Not inclined to make friends with strangers, she preferred to be as discreet as possible. So she settled down in a corner, with her sketchbook, while the guests were still arriving in dribs and drabs. Brooke watched, in spite of herself, as the Brothers and Sisters hugged their loved ones... Her heart pinched a little. There were young and old, couples, and children running around...Not satisfied with her drawing, she finally closed her notebook and began to walk aimlessly among the crowd. However, she found the atmosphere friendly and pleasant. The sky was clear and the sun was even out. As she walked towards the large buffet looking for Lucas who was nowhere to be found, Debie's voice took her by surprise.
DEBIE : Brooke, could you come help me? My son called me, he'll be here any minute...
BROOKE : Sure, yeah... I'm following you!
DEBIE : Oh thanks! That's alla him... Always letting me know at the last minute... But he's bringing me cases of champagne for the fundraiser!
As Brooke followed Debie through the guests towards the exit, she continued her explanation.
DEBIE : He lives in Champagne so you see... He knows where to find some at a competitive price!
BROOKE : I see... Let's go unload this car and this good champagne, then!
A few moments later, as they waited for Debie's son at the entrance to the estate... A car was driving a little too fast down the driveway, the windows were down and the music was playing loudly. The car pulled up quickly with a slightly outrageous screeching noise and the man got out of his car. Debie rushed to hug her son, hiding Brooke's view. Then she saw him better... Tall, dark, a small, growing beard, dark brown eyes... And even a tattoo that was revealed!
DEBIE : Nathan, meet Brooke. Brooke, this is my son, Nathan.
NATHAN : Honestly and sincerely delighted to meet you Brooke...
Her barely exaggerated tone was accompanied by a little mischievous grin. Brooke continued to assess her with a smile.
BROOKE : Hello... Nathan.
NATHAN : I am all the more delighted because it is really refreshing to meet such a charming young woman... And who, moreover, is not a nun for once!
His bold but flattering little remark was accompanied by a visual journey that detailed Brooke from top to bottom. Brooke blushed but did not dare to answer him because, although she was still hesitating between warming him up or rebuffing him ... The presence of Debie, his little mother, prevented any possibility of an inappropriate reaction. She remained silent. Nathan opened his trunk filled with cardboard boxes and took two of them in one go. Brooke squinted at his bulging muscles.
NATHAN : In your office, Mom?
DEBIE : Yes, it's open. Go ahead, we'll follow you with Brooke!
As Debie tried to find the best grip to grab a box, she was surprised at its weight.
DEBIE : Ohhh!
BROOKE : Leave Debie, I'll take care of it. You'll just have to open the doors for me!
DEBIE : Are you sure?
BROOKE : Yes... You'll hurt yourself!
Debie gave her a little shocked look. Then, she made sure she was holding the box tightly before moving forward. Brooke carried the heavy box to Debie's office and laboriously placed it on the table.
BROOKE : These boxes are a ton! Did you bring enough to get the whole village drunk or what?!
Without noticing, Brooke addressed Nathan informally, who didn't seem bothered in the least. Quite the contrary...
NATHAN : I think that's my mother's unspoken goal... It'll make donors more generous! And religious people less uptight!
BROOKE : I wouldn't go that far... But alcohol might have the merit of making them at least normal...
Nathan laughed out loud at her reflection on the members of the Community, and dared to do much worse than her.
NATHAN : Fortunately, they have that to relax since they don't have the right to the heady and liberating erotic follies!
Brooke pursed her lips a little amused but their complicit aside was quickly interrupted by Debie's return.
Brooke had then joined the party with Debie and Nathan but lost sight of them when Debie wanted to introduce him to everyone. Whetched up an appetite, Brooke went to help herself to a plate at the buffet and looked for a seat ... She saw Sister Karen sitting at a wooden table. She was accompanied but she approached her and her guest.
SISTER KAREN : My daughter, come and sit with us. It would be an immense joy for me to introduce you to my niece, Lindsay!
The young girl greeted Brooke with a movement of her arm, her mouth still full until she said to her with a smile:
LINDSAY : It's me she's talking about!
Sister Karen's niece was younger than Brooke. She was pure beauty and wise but joyful and full of life. In a few minutes, Brooke learned that Lindsay was in her third year of medical school, in the Paris region. What followed was a discussion about the advantages of city life versus country living... Until Brooke was interrupted by someone she felt sitting down next to her. For a millisecond, she found herself hoping it was Lucas she'd see when she looked up...
NATHAN : Bon appetit ladies! Everything looks really delicious!
After stepping over the table and setting down her plate, Brooke felt him stick to her thigh in a clearly assumed manner. And while she was still getting used to this contact as surprising as it was galvanizing given her state of emotional deprivation... She finally saw Lucas. He was moving away from the buffet in the company of another fairly young religious man. The two men were walking towards the table where Brooke was sitting but Lucas hadn't noticed her yet. Instinctively, she took her leg off Nathan's while Lucas's gaze finally met hers. And while Brooke perceived a tiny confusion in the handsome priest's attitude, he no longer had time to react..His counterpart gave him a small nod to indicate that he should sit down... at their table. Lucas took a seat on the bench opposite, next to Sister Karen. He wasn't right in front of Brooke... But still close enough that their mutual glances conveyed the unease that had just settled between them.
BROTHER SKILLS : Bless us, Lord, bless this meal, those who prepared it, and provide bread for those who have none. Amen.
Brooke watched Lucas make the sign of the cross, wordlessly, staring at his plate. TThe two men began to eat in the strict silence but the uninitiated quickly took it upon themselves to break it ...
LINDSAY : In any case, I hope you all took the carrots with coriander ... They are really delicious!
SISTER KAREN : You're right, Lindsay. And let me tell you why they are so tasty ... Because we grow them here with all the care and attention they deserve ... The advantages of the countryside!
NATHAN : That's all to your credit! Personally, I have an aversion to coriander but I compensate with cauliflowers.
SISTER KAREN : So, you must be very pleasing to your neighbor who harvested, washed, and bouquetd them all yesterday afternoon.
Nathan turned to Brooke with interest, taking care to recreate contact with her pressing thigh again. He plunged his eyes into hers and The mischievous, playful smile he displayed relaxed and amused Brooke.
NATHAN : You can really tell you gave them all the care and attention they deserved...
Her tone was flirtatious but warm. Brooke's knowing and knowing look conveyed her amusement.
BROOKE : Let's not exaggerate! But at least they didn't ruin it by adding cilantro!
NATHAN : Now there, I definitely agree with you!
Apparently delighted to have found a first point in common, Nathan smiled at Brooke with full teeth and gave her a wink. For half a second, Brooke noticed his gaze furtively squinting at her chest ... This rapprochement seemed to attract the attention of Lucas who observed them with a destabilized and shadowy eye. This small reaction, as discreet as it was, delighted Brooke and encouraged her to then test more provocation ... She took a malicious pleasure in laughing outrageously at Nathan's jokes and throwing him a few glances ... From time to time, she observed Lucas who pretended to participate in the conversation but his expression did not deceive. Beyond that, and even if she was clearly using him to bring Lucas out of his torpor, Brooke found Nathan quite charming. Nathan, enthusiastic, then addressed the whole table.
NATHAN : Does anyone know if there will be some music later? It might add a little more festive atmosphere...
BROTHER SKILLS : Brother, God must have read your mind to answer your prayers! Our choir sisters have planned to offer us a moment of liturgical songs around two o'clock!
NATHAN : Oh! Good...
Nathan turned to Brooke and got close to her face to say discreetly:
NATHAN : I have to say that this is not really what I was thinking... There are more fun things than a choir!
BROOKE : I guess so! But I know what I'm going to do that's really fun...
NATHAN : You interest me there...
Brooke took on a confident and assured air and said to him in a suave voice:
BROOKE : That, I had noticed...
At first destabilized but then charmed by his audacity, Nathan hesitated then answered him with a smile:
Nathan : No! Well yes! But I mean what was your idea?
Brooke raised her eyebrows to increase the mystery then nodded towards the huge inflatable structure.
NATHAN : The thing for kids over there?
BROOKE : Who said it was only for kids!?
NATHAN : Absolutely no one, indeed! You really are an amazing girl... Come on, I'll follow you!
Brooke stepped over the wooden bench, grabbing the hand Nathan held out to her and then audibly shouted to the whole table...
BROOKE : Anyone else for the inflatable castle!?
Of course, she gave her favorite priest an insistent and defiant look... He looked away.
A few moments later, Brooke had taken off her shoes. And while she puts them next to the children's...
NATHAN : I don't want to spoil your fun but I'll remind you that we just ate...
BROOKE : Are you chickening out already!?
NATHAN : Forget it! No way you're going to think I'm a small player... Especially since the game hasn't even started yet!
Laughing, they stepped over the slope that led to the very colorful inflatable surface on which children were jumping happily. The first jolts almost made Brooke fall but Nathan took pleasure in catching her by the hips. At the same time, Brooke took the opportunity to check Lucas's angle of view... Although far away, he was right in front of them.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Perfect...
Then losing sight of her goal a little, Brooke jumped and bounced in all directions. She was really having a lot of fun. She let herself go to this unique sensation that gave her intense joy and well-being ... In a provoked acrobatics, she pretended to fall on Nathan and her wandering hands rejoiced at his fall. Their elongated bodies continued to bounce on the stretched canvas besieged by the energetic and joyful feet of the children. Nathan was above Brooke, one arm stretched over the nylon permanently inflated by a noisy fan. A little embarrassed to put on a show in front of the whole Community and didn't want to go too far in front of Lucas, Brooke stood up a little to avoid an imminent rapprochement that was too obvious and moved away from Nathan a little. In order to check that Lucas had not missed anything, she looked at him and saw him approaching them with a determined step ... Everything got mixed up in Brooke's mind when Nathan, who was not taking his eyes off her either, made a request to her.
NATHAN : Do you have anything planned tonight?
While she didn't know what to answer, Brooke turned her attention back to Lucas who was now trying to catch her eye. She then completely forgot about Nathan who was waiting for her answer to her question... And addressed Lucas.
BROOKE : Have you changed your mind?
LUCAS : No Brooke... Would you mind coming down for a second and not making me climb on top of it!
Brooke pretended to hesitate but got off the inflatable fairly quickly... Her heart was beating hard in her chest.
LUCAS : I won't bother you for long and I know your weekend starts tonight... After this first week, you deserve to rest or...
Lucas seemed a little confused but his tone and the rest of the sentence confirmed his irritation.
LUCAS : Or to "distract" you...
BROOKE : Indeed, I thank you for letting me know... What did you want to ask me?
LUCAS : Actually, I wanted to know if you would agree to spend the evening with me tonight?
Brooke was inwardly rejoicing at this completely unexpected proposal and admiring this courageous step.
BROOKE : You and me, tonight? Why this sudden proposal?
LUCAS : I came by the home this morning ... Sam has a little love heartbreak and I'm afraid I won't be able to find the right words. So, I told myself that between girls, it would surely be better and she wanted to confide in someone ...
BROOKE : What time are we meeting?
LUCAS : At 6:30 p.m. after prayer. I'll pick you up and we'll go pick up the kids by car.